Flower Beauty - Kiss Stick Lip Color and Shine On Lip Gloss

Out of all the things I hauled from Flower Beauty a couple of months ago, I've liked the lip products the most, particularly the lipsticks. I also inadvertently picked out matching pairs in both lipstick and gloss - bright raspberry pinks and warm terracotta corals. It was a little hard to gauge the colour of the lipsticks, since there were no testers, and I just went by the shades shown in the bottom of the cap. (That's one thing I hope they do resolve in the future. On the other hand, I did like that the products were very well sealed and it was evident if an item had been tampered with, which is the major downside of shopping for drugstore items.)

The lipsticks come in two versions: the Kiss Stick High Shine, which has a very creamy, emollient, richly pigmented formula, and the Kiss Stick Velvet, which has a modern matte finish and not as much pigment punch. I purchased the former formula in the shade Ginger Lily (the terracotta coral) and the latter in Flamingo Flower (the hot pink).

The packaging probably inspires strong feelings either way, and for my part, I think it's just lovely. It has a lot of style and panache, and I like the practicality of being able to see the shade on the bottom.

Top: Kiss Stick High Shine Lip Color in Ginger Lily
Bottom: Kiss Stick Velvet Lip Color in Flamingo Flower

Top: Kiss Stick Velvet Lip Color in Flamingo Flower
Bottom: Kiss Stick High Shine Lip Color in Ginger Lily

Top: Kiss Stick Velvet Lip Color in Flamingo Flower
Bottom: Kiss Stick High Shine Lip Color in Ginger Lily

I really liked the formula of both of these, though the High Shine feels a lot more opulent on the lips. The Velvet formula has more silicone-slip, which can feel a bit dry to some people, though I didn't personally have an issue with that. With one pass it deposits a good amount of pigment, but is not completely opaque, whereas the High Shine formula has full coverage immediately. Both last about 6 hours with some light staining left behind, though I found the High Shine faded more evenly.

The Shine On Lip Glosses only come in one variety, and I don't know if this is the case with all of them, but I find they have really nice coverage for a gloss. I purchased Iris I Could Fly (the bright, raspberry pink) and Pretty in Petunia (the warm coral). By the way, can we have a moment to just enjoy the super-cute names?

Top: Shine On Lip Gloss in Pretty in Petunia
Bottom: Shine on Lip Gloss in Iris I Could Fly

Top: Shine on Lip Gloss in Iris I Could Fly
Bottom: Shine On Lip Gloss in Pretty in Petunia

These are smooth-feeling, non-sticky glosses with no discernible scent, and while they are not particularly hydrating, they are very comfortable to wear and last for about 4 hours, though they don't stay as shiny. I really quite like these, especially Iris, which has a lot of colour punch for a gloss.

This is a quick little picture of Iris I Could Fly over a blotted layer of Flamingo Flower:

Face: Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in Shell and Powder in Light, 

Flower Beauty Glow Baby Glow Blush/Bronzer Duo in Shimmering Goddess

Eyes: Guerlain Mascara Noir G, Flower Beauty On Your Mark Liquid Liner in Black,
Flower Shadow Play Quad in Smoke and Mirrors

Availability: Exclusive to Walmart. Price is 6.98$ USD for both the lipsticks and the lip glosses.

Pros: Great pigmentation overall, especially so for the High Shine lipstick and the Iris shade of the gloss. Good wear length and comfortable feeling, with the High Shine feeling especially creamy and smooth on the lips. Lip glosses are smooth and don't feel tacky. The brand is also cruelty-free and made in the USA, if those are concerns.

Cons: The silicone in the Velvet lipsticks may feel drying, and it does require two passes to achieve the coverage and depth of one pass from the High Shine lipstick.

(These items were purchased by me from a Walmart in the US.)

Dior Birds of Paradise Summer 2013 - Blue Lagoon and Peacock 5-Couleurs Eyeshadow Palettes

I generally adore Dior palettes. It's a rare collection that doesn't tempt me with at least one, and the Birds of Paradise collection was no exception. I stopped by the local Pharmaprix that has a Dior counter THE DAY it was launched, and was told they only had one each left in stock. I quickly swatched them in store and, my eyes filled with glorious blue-green visions of Piscean wonder, snapped them up right quick.

In retrospect, I should have taken more time.

They are not terrible, by any means (certainly nothing like last summer's chalky pastel mess), but they are a bit of a mixed bag.

Based on appearances alone, both Peacock and Blue Lagoon are stunners.

Left to right: Peacock and Blue Lagoon

I mean, aquas and smoky teals and golden-greens? That's my natural plumage, right there.

Dior Peacock 5-Couleurs Palette

Natural light. Clockwise from top left in the palette, with middle shade of the palette swatched last on the right.

Sunlight.

The best Dior shadows have a dense and creamy texture, with medium pigmentation that lends itself well to both soft washes and building up for intensity. Out of all of these, the golden-green from the top left and the middle shade - a pale aqua-cream - are examples of this formula, and the standout performers. Both apply easily and blend well, and last for an average workday without problems, especially over a primer.

The dusky teal shade (bottom left in the palette) seemed to have a touch of duochrome in the pan, but it doesn't quite come out swatched or applied on the eye. It has good pigmentation, though a slightly drier texture than the other two. It does best when patted on with a MAC 239 type brush if you're going for the same degree of intensity, though blended in the crease I found no issues in terms of application or wear.

The middle shade in the swatch line-up (bottom right in the palette) is more problematic. The colour is interesting - a pale golden green with a strong beige undertone, like pea soup with a ton of cream added. Unfortunately, it's one of the poorer shades. Sheerer and more powdery, it doesn't seem to show much when applied. It does better over a cream eyeshadow for a base, but even then, it looks sort of dull, in an unintended way. If it was more opaque, I think the murky but pale shade would be interesting. With more delicate colouring than mine, the effect might be more flattering, however it was still troublesome to work with. I found that application of this one definitely benefitted from a tightly-packed paddle brush like the 239, or a sponge applicator.

The second shade in the line-up (top right in the palette) was not good on any level. A warm cream, it is sheer and powdery, and didn't seem to do much when applied except drop down some of the glitter. Meh.

Dior Blue Lagoon 5-Couleurs Palette

Natural light. Clockwise, from top left in the palette, middle shade swatched at far right.

Sunlight.

The last three shades in the swatch line-up (and the lower two and the middle shade in the palette) are the best out of all, with that classic Dior texture, wear and colour payoff. The pale iridescent green applies whiter than I was expecting, but you can definitely still see that green flash. It is a gorgeous colour, and is stunning as an inner corner highlight. The medium turqouise shade again looks like it has some duochrome in the pan, but it's less obvious when applied, more of a fine golden sheen. The deep-sea blue of the middle shade is equally beautiful. All three apply well, blend without a hitch and look fantastic together. Had this been a trio, it would have been perfect.

Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the other two shades. The bright blue from the top left is actually quite pigmented, but the powdery nature makes it difficult to transfer to the skin. I found the best result was using a primer, and then a creamy white pencil (something like NYX Milk or Cottage Cheese), and layering it overtop of that. The result then is an opaque, wonderfully 60s pastel shade.

The second shade in the swatch line-up (top right in the palette) is just...a bummer really. It is ridiculously sheer, with next to no adherence to the skin. I'm at a loss to explain this one. Is it meant to be the barest wash of blueish shimmer imaginable? I don't know how anyone in RnD thought this was worthy of being included. At a stretch, it can be layered over a dark, matte cream eyeshadow to add a faintly metallic sheen.

Overall, my impression of these palettes skews more positive than negative. I can't say that I fully regret buying them, since they do have some lovely colours and I'm enraptured by the general feel of this collection as much as anything else. These are not un-dupable shades, and for 60$, the pretty colours may not be enough to overcome the shortcomings. That said, they are far from unworkable.

Eyes: Dior Peacock Palette, Rimmel Scandaleyes in Nude,
YSL Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils in Jade Black, Pixi Mascara

Face: Guerlain Parure de Lumiere in Beige Clair, Dior Nude Tan Paradise in Coral Glow,
MUFE HD Concealer

Lips: Clarins Eclat Minute Lip Perfector in Candy Shimmer

Availability: At some Dior counters at The Bay, as well as online. Also at select SDM/Pharmaprix locations, and Nordstrom. Price is 60$ USD and CAD.

Pros: Three good to great shades in each palette, with creamy, dense textures, good pigmentation and easy application. Wear was about 8 hours for these shades over a primer. The colour range of the bottom three shades in the Blue Lagoon palette is particularly beautiful.

Cons: Each palette has one challenging but workable shade (or one that might be better on very pale skin tones) and one shade that is just poor - sheer, dusty, problematic on all levels.

(I purchased these items from the Dior counter at SDM/Pharmaprix.)

The Makeup Show NYC 2013 - Recap and Pictures

Aaaaaand we're back.

The Makeup Show was INSANE. And really, really fun. I'm so glad I was able to make it down this year. The seminars were wonderful - Dick Page was the single most inspiring speaker, so much so that I completely forgot to take any pictures or video!!!

The vendor list was incredible as well, with a good balance of big name or high-end brands (Nars, MAC, Ellis Faas), pro artist brands (Graftobian, Cinema Secrets, Mehron, Temptu) and start-ups or those new to the North American market (Layla, MAKE Color). The line-ups were particularly long for OCC, MUFE (which went around the room!) and Inglot, but well worth it for the discounts if you weren't already signed up.

The crowd was interesting. A lot of variety despite it being pro-restricted. You could easily spot the "celebrity" MUAs like Kevin James Bennett, Jon Hennessey and James Vincent, and then the industry workers (I overheard two ladies discussing their work on The Americans) mixing in with the small-scale freelancers and Sephora girls (like me), as well as a lot of students.

I will definitely be going back next year, and if you have a professional interest in makeup, I would highly encourage you to check out the closest show to you next time around. :)

This was the entrance to the show on the first day. It takes place at the Metropolitan Pavillion, which is a lovely and spacious building right near Union Square.

I really enjoyed seeing the random Canadian flag displayed proudly at the Face Atelier booth!

These were some of the vendors on the main floor. I have the say the Nars folks represented their brand most consistently, with their crisp white shirts and pristine makeup. I was really excited to see Ellis Faas there as well, since I had had such mixed experiences with their line and really wanted to give them another chance - and the discount made it easier. :P

Side note - get your shopping done on the first day if you are looking to stock up on certain things. By noon on the second day, a lot of the brands were sold out of the hotter items. (The first thing I snagged was the Nars Pierre Hardy Boys Don't Cry Blush. It was gone by the next morning.)

If you're looking to try things on, don't forget to bring a small mirror. Not all the brands are going to be as ready as the Bite Beauty booth guy was. (PS - Canada represent!)

Then there were the free seminars and demos. This was Keri Blair, one of the top trainers for MAC, teaching Era Reinterpreted, doing a modern take on a 1920s look. She focused on creating a diffused smoky, lamplit eye, perfect but minimal skin, and a vampy rosebud lip. She used a mix of Cyber, Blue Lipmix and Teal Reflects to create the lip, and I wish I had a closer picture to convey its pure awesomeness.

This was James Vincent, a veteran of the industry and the Director of Artistry and Education for The Powder Group and The Makeup Show. He introduced the Keynote speakers (and did the wonderful interview with Dick Page).

This was Brigitte Reiss-Andersen, another 30-year veteran of the industry, who has worked in Fashion, Editorial and as a celebrity makeup artist. Incredible body of work, and she demonstrated her tremendous speed and skill by doing three looks on one model in 15 minutes - 1) clean editorial 2) natural and 3) glamour. If you're inclined to watch, I posted the video I took here. 

There were also some fun body-painting demos throughout, particularly at the Kett, Mehron, Graftobian and MUFE booths.

You may recognize the artist in the picture above as Athena Z, from the second season of Face Off. :)

And, of course, there was the shopping....

I restrained myself to the items that I would normally have a harder time getting, especially at the pro discount price. And, of course, I HAD to get my first Hakuhodo brushes. They are, indeed, made of kittens and love.

So yes. That was my weekend, more or less. (Plus visiting with family and friends.) Imma go pass out now.

Off to The Makeup Show in New York!

I'm so excited! I'm actually just packing right now for my trip to The Makeup Show, which takes place in New York over this weekend. I went a couple of years ago and it was an absolutely amazing experience - the shopping was insane, but the workshops with leading pros in the field were even better. Sadly, I don't have the funds to do the workshops this time around (my entire budget is going towards purchasing this year), but there will be a jillion free seminars and some incredible keynote addresses to sit in on as well.

To give you an idea, these are the brands that will be exhibiting:

AJ Crimson Cosmetics Alcone Company Armour Beauty Auraline Beauty Bad Ass Stencils Bdellium Tools Bite Beauty Blinc Inc Cailyn Cosmetics Cattiva Cosmetics Chic Studios Cinema Secrets Cosmix School Crown Brushes Crystal Wright Live Dante Disposables Dermalogica Dinair Airbrush Elementwo Elessa Jade Ellis Faas Embryolisse USA Eve Pearl Beauty Eye Kandy Cosmetics Face Atelier Frends Beauty Supply Glamcor Global Beauty Care G Body Art Pro Graftobian Makeup Grande Lash MD Hakuhodo USA I Make You Beautiful Inglot Cosmetics Kett Cosmetics Kevyn Aucoin Khuraira Cosmetics

Layla Cosmetics Lit Cosmetics London Brush Company MAC Cosmetics MAKE Colour Make Up For Ever Make Up For Ever Academy Mario Badescu Skin Care Marmag Beauty Products Mehron, Inc. MG Hair & Makeup Michael Marcus Cosmetics Model in a Bottle Nigels Beauty Emporium Naked Cosmetics NARS Cosmetics Nurturing Force Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Ofra Cosmetics Pari Beauty Parian Spirit Pinnacle Cosmetics RCMA Senna Cosmetics Shabbos Brushups Smashbox Cosmetics Stila Cosmetics T3 Micro Tei Spa Temptu PRO Tizo by Fallene The Knot The Powder Group Tweezerman Veil Cosmetics What’s Hot Inc. Velour Lashes Yaby Cosmetics Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Z Palette Zuca

These are the free seminars available:

SUNDAY, May 5th TH       
Seminar A – 1st Floor10:00- 10:45    Learn How to Control the Shine but Keep The Glow- Bp Carmouché for Inglot Cosmetics

11:15- 12:00    Designing Brows from Realway to Runway- Eugenia Weston for Senna Cosmetics

12:30- 1:15      The Art of Contour-Jenny Rostami for Make Up For Ever

1:45- 2:30        Airbrushing the Beauty and the Beast for Beautiful Creatures – Fionagh Cush for Temptu Pro

3:00- 3:45        NARS: Modern, Audacious, Iconic – Cindy Rodriguez for Nars Cosmetics

4:15- 5:00        Creating the Flawless 15 Minute Face, does your kit have what it takes? Brandalyn Fulton for Face Atelier

5:00-5:45         Sexy Summer and The Youngblood Difference- Liliana Pennington for Youngblood Mineral   
      
Seminar Space B – 1st Floor           
9:45- 10:30      Makeup Not War- David Stella for Ellis Faas

11:00- 11:45    A/W 2013 Back Stage Trends - Courtney Tichman and Valerie P. Hernandez for OCC Makeup

12:15- 1:00      Era Reinterpreted – Keri Blair for MAC Cosmetics

1:30- 2:15        HD Makeup for the Modern Bride- Dani Fonseca for Mehron

2:45- 3:30        Forming Long Lasting Skin Preparations-Ofra Gaito for Ofra Cosmetics

4:00- 4:45        Brushes 101-Orlando Santiago for Crown Brush

Seminar C- 2nd Floor          
9:30- 10:15      Kit Focus – James Vincent, Orlando Santiago and Jon Hennessey for The Makeup Show

10:30- 11:15    Blending Italian Style-Stefania Ghidoni for Layla Cosmetics

12:00- 1:30      Red Carpet Revolution- Beau Nelson

2:00- 300         Building a Brand-Eve Pearl

3:15- 4:00        High Definition Bridal Flawless Finish- Buntricia Bastian for Pinnacle Cosmetics

MONDAY, MAY 6TH                   
Seminar A – 1st Floor          
9:45- 10:30      Tracking Trends- Fall 2013 – Kevin James Bennett for Naked Cosmetics

11:00- 11:45    Brow Blocking For Couture Creations – Sheila McKenna for Kett Cosmetics

12:15- 1:00      Studio Trend: Color Saturation-Lori Taylor for Smashbox

1:30- 2:15        Double Duty Beauty – Cory Bishop for Stila Cosmetics

2:45- 3:30        Runway & Red Carpet Trends -Dan Sharp for T3 Micro

4:00- 4:45       Alcone at Home- Alcone Company

Seminar B – 1st Floor          
9:30-10:15       Local 798- How to Get Into the Union? – Valerie Galdstone

10:45-11:30     Bridal Makeup, start with airbrush, finish with classic techniques – Renolyn Monteloyola for Graftobian Make-Up

12:00-12:45     Makeup Application for All Types of Skin Discolorations-Maurice Stein for Cinema Secrets

1:15-2:00         Celebrity Makeup Tricks of the Trade – Sher Salzman for Cosmix School of Makeup Artistry

2:30- 3:15        Vintage Beauty -Nikoletta Skarlatos for Julie Hewett Los Angeles at Nigel’s Beauty Emporium

3:45- 4:30        Makeup for Entrepreneurs – Erik Kaser for GlamCor    
             
Seminar C – 2nd Floor        
9:15-10:00    Bridal Bootcamp- Esterique Aidan for The Makeup Show

10:15-11:00  Advancing Your Makeup Career with Airbrushing – Nicky Posley for Temptu Pro

11:30-12:15   Creating Beauty: Color Impact -Jenn Karsten for Make Up For Ever

1:00-2:00      The Next Big Thing with Crystal Wright and Michael DeVellis

2:45-3:30       Student? Graduate? What’s next? – Danessa Myricks for The Makeup Show

And then these are the Keynote Forums:

Represent: Understanding the Relationship of Artist and Agent -Pati Dubroff & Brooke Wall
Sunday, May 5 2013- 10:30 – 12:00The relationship between an artist and their agent is one of the most important in the industry. In a business where deals are brokered daily and there are more artists working than ever before, it is crucial to sign with an agency that is in the know. In this first time keynote at The Makeup Show, Celebrity Makeup Artist Pati Dubroff and Brooke Wall, Founder and CEO of The Wall Group, give you insider information about the when, why, and how of finding an agent, getting signed, and building the best relationship possible. The Wall Group was founded in 1998 by Brooke and is now a fully integrated agency that focuses on providing its talent with the most effective and well-executed representation.  The Wall Group represents some of the biggest names in the business, including Pati Dubroff. In this session Brooke and Pati will discuss their thoughts on the relationship between artist and agent, and speak from their own experience in the fashion and beauty industries. They will share their insight on the industry today, and offer their expert advice to artists and assistants looking to be signed.

Iconic Artistry-Gina Brooke Sponsored by Make Up For Ever
Sunday, May 5 2013 – 1:00-2:30
Finding your muse, learning to research, and expressing inspiration are just a few essential parts to becoming a successful makeup artist. In this special session, renowned make up artist, Gina Brooke, offers her perspective on the do’s and don’ts of the make up industry as well as useful advice to help elevate any artist’s career to the next level. Gina’s diverse experience in the industry and her passion for creating iconic beauty over passing trend has cemented her as the go to artist for incomparable names in the industry like Madonna, Steven Klein, and David LaChapelle, to name a few. The stories and information that Gina has to share will allow you to see just how successful make up artists can be in so many different areas of the industry and will give you insight and incentive on developing your own makeup style and paving your own path to success.

An Artists Perspective- How to thrive in an always changing Fashion Industry
Brigitte Reiss-Andersen
Sunday, May 5 2013 – 3:30-5:00As one of the industry’s most respected makeup artists, Brigitte Reiss-Andersen works at the highest level in the worlds of fashion and celebrity. With over 200 magazine covers to her credit, Brigitte is known for her refinement, creative expression, range, and virtuosity of technique. Having worked with a who’s who of photographers including Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin, Patrick Demarchelier, Michael Thompson and Annie Leibovitz, Brigitte’s signature looks are regularly seen in Vogue, Numéro, Allure, Glamour and Marie-Claire. In her first time at The Makeup Show Brigitte will share with us the story of her career, let us in on some of her favorite tips and show us some of the techniques that have made her the makeup artist of choice. With her roster of luminaries and celebrity clients including twenty one Oscar winning actresses, Grammy winners and leading ladies like Michelle Pfeiffer, Tilda Swinton, Hilary Swank and Taylor Swift Brigitte is considered a true makeup master. Known for her experience, eloquence and passion Brigitte will inspire all artists to further develop their own skills and motivate them to find their own path to success in the makeup industry.

Humanizing Glamour: The Art of Transformation with Mathu Andersen - Sponsored by Make Up For Ever
Monday, May 6 2013 10:00-11:30This inspirational session will delve deep into the world of transformative make up. The concept of transforming a face is something that most make up artists have the opportunity to apply on some level, to every area of their work on a daily basis. Correcting an eye shape here, or placing that perfect contour there, to create your client’s ideal look. But not many artists have the opportunity to truly transform a face to the extent that Mathu Andersen has become legendary for doing. Known for his incredible work with celebrities like RuPaul, Gwen Stefani, Janet Jackson, and Christina Aguilera, Mathu will to take you on an exciting journey, explaining and demonstrating what transformation in makeup means to him. He will help to push your creative boundaries, inspiring you to look at the human face in new ways and is sure to excite you about the potential and power of makeup.

Impact: Social Media and the Internet in the Beauty Business
Monday, May 6 2013 - 12:00-1:30
Changes driven by the internet have made an enormous impact on how we work in every area of our industry from education to promotion and above. Social media, speed of communication, and access to information have made building a personal business more simple and more complicated than ever before. In this keynote forum hosted by Ty Alexander of Gorgeous in Grey Internet and social media experts that have made their mark on the world of makeup offer an insiders expertise on the internet, insight on the power of online presence and an understanding of how it can help you to better build your artistry business while managing to hold onto integrity. Please join Nils Johnson technology whiz and Creator of Beautylish.com, On Air Beauty Expert and Publisher and Editor In Chief of TheMakeupGirl Lianne Farbes and Publisher and Editor in Chief for ThisThatBeauty and beauty/ style writer, Felicia Walker Benson as they give the real information on the internet and how it can help you to better build your artistry business.

Behind the Scenes – Dick PageMonday, May 6 2013 – 2:00-3:30With a resume that includes a who’s who of photographers such as Michael Thompson, Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin for International publications including W, Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue Dick Page has achieved widespread recognition for his editorial and advertising work. His role as Artistic Director of Shiseido Makeup and his backstage presence as Key Artist for iconic designers runways including Michael Kors, Narciso Rodriguez, and Marc by Marc Jacobs have solidified his place as a makeup master. His influence is felt internationally and he is an inspiration for artists everywhere. In his first time keynote at The Makeup Show, Dick will offer insight into the collaborative process and explain how his designs translate from inspiration to application and then on to become the must wear makeup trends of the season, although he insists that he “doesn’t believe in trends”, so he’ll have something to say about that too!. Dick will also offer invaluable insight and advice for the artist that wants to work in those coveted positions backstage and be behind the scenes at fashion weeks all over the world.

Kit Focus: The Makeup Show Artists: James Vincent, Jon Hennessy and Orlando SantiagoSunday, May 5 2013 – 9:30-10:15
The Makeup Shows Director of Artistry James Vincent presents his most popular seminar with a panel made up of The Makeup Show Artists team, some of the best in the business giving insight and ideas on building the best kit and offering the what, why and how of assembling the ideal makeup kit.  Whether you are a veteran in the industry or just starting out this seminar will save you money, time, and a bad back by exploring how to make the most out of what you have while bringing the least amount of makeup to set.

Red Carpet Revolution – Beau Nelson
Sunday, May 5 2013 – 12:00 – 1:30Award season shows us celebrities at their best and brings us trend for upcoming seasons but a lot of people are playing it safe. Makeup artist Beau Nelson brings you beyond the boring. Giving you insight into his makeup mind that has him pushing beyond the basic pretty makeup of other celebrities and giving his clients including Nicole Richie, Kristen Stewart and Blake Lively some of the most talked about makeup looks of the season. In this keynote Beau shares with you his thought behind designing a daring makeup look and shows you how to incorporate these trends into your everyday makeup look.

Building a Brand – Eve PearlSunday, May 5 2013 – 2:00-3:00Makeup Master, Brand Owner, Celebrity Artist, Educator and 5 time Emmy Award winner Eve Pearl has made a name for herself as one of the best in the business. As Creator and Founder of EVE PEARL she has managed to make her eponymous line a must have for makeup artists and enthusiast everywhere. In this exciting presentation Eve will share the story of how she started the EVE PEARL brand from the ground up (out of her apartment, with NO investors) and offer insight into the pros and cons of starting a makeup line. Listen in as Eve details how to develop and choose products that look and feel unique with innovative packaging and reveals some tips to set you apart from the thousands of makeup lines on the market. Eve will also discuss the impact of social media on the makeup business; disclose the best practices in strategic marketing give you some ideas on developing your own brand to help build your name and business. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning your own makeup brand this presentation is one you should not miss.

The Next Big Thing – Crystal Wright and Michael DeVellisMonday, May 6 2013 – 1:00- 2:00In an industry that is always growing there are more artists competing for jobs than ever before. Understanding the professional aspects of the industry is more important than ever. The Makeup Show LA presents two industry titans, brought together to help you learn to take your career to a new echelon and better understand how your artistry must partner with a mastering of the career building side of the business. Crystal Wright and Michael DeVellis come together to take you through the basics of social media and on-line communication, the importance of business materials, an understanding of on set etiquette and how appropriately crafting and creating the right relationships can take you to the next level. Head to head, mano a mano these two industry heavyweights will answer your questions in the no nonsense manner they are known for. With many years of industry insider experience, Crystal Wright of Crystal Wright Live is known for her straight talking take on making it as a makeup artist. Her book Hair, Makeup and Fashion Styling Career Guide has become a bible for artists working today. As the owner of The Powder Group and On Makeup Magazine, Michael is known for his development of education and resources for our artist’s community. Together they will tell you what you need to know to take control and set your career on the right path. They will be answering questions in a debate style format where they deliberate, examine, entertain and answer questions from a live audience and from previously received questions sent via social media.

DICK FREAKING PAGE Y'ALL. Ok, so maybe excited is an understatement. :P

If this interests you, it's not too late to get tickets at the door! You do need to show credentials as a professional in the industry.

Check out the details here: http://www.themakeupshow.com/makeupshow/NY/index.html. Or else take a look at the other Show dates in Chicago and Orlando later this year. (And if you look under the Education tab, you can see the paid workshops offered as well.)

See you guys next week!

Revlon Pacific Coast Collection (Spring 2013) - Sea Mist Quad, Lip Butters in Sorbet, Lollipop, Wild Watermelon, Juicy Papaya

I'm a sucker for Emma Stone (Biggest. Girl Crush. EVER.), I dream of living in California, and I love the Revlon Lip Butter formula, so snagging the Pacific Coast spring collection by Gucci Westman was a no-brainer. Oceanic shades for the eyes and neon-ish lip shades? So terribly 80s in the wrong hands, but I had faith in Ms. Westman.

The collection features four lip butters, two quads, two blush sticks and four nail polishes, though I availed myself only of the Sea Mist quad and the Lip Butters.

The quad is a lovely selection of shades that seem geared toward creating a jewel-toned eye look: a pale peach, a misty turquoise, and smoky variants on a forest green and purple. They're an interesting set of colours in the pan, and the texture is nice enough, though not noteworthy. They are soft but not buttery, and not powdery either. They blend out without problems, though the purple does go a bit grey as it sheers out with blending.

Applied to bare skin.

They all have a shimmer finish, with sheer-to-medium pigmentation. The purple and green are the sheerest, especially when applied on bare skin. Over a creamy base, they can be built up quite nicely. (I used the green to layer over a black kohl liner in this review.) If you're wary of wearing non-neutral colours, this might be a good palette for you, as the sheerer payoff but good blendability means they can be worked into an overall design without becoming overwhelming or too difficult to manage. I can't say this is a palette that I would reach for on a regular basis, though I do think the turquoise is lovely.

I was overall much happier with the Lip Butters, as I found they took the classic, balmy formula and tweaked the pigment up a notch for a stained glass effect - high pigment in a sheer formula. Like several other brands have done recently, this makes a bright punch of colour eminently wearable. I can't remember the last time I wore a bright fuchsia without benefit of lipliner and meticulous application, but  these are SO easy. Just swipe or dab on and go out the door. DONE.

Left to right: Sorbet, Lollipop, Wild Watermelon, Juicy Papaya

Sorbet and Lollipop are the most vibrant of the four, with the strongest layer of pigment visible on the lips. Lollipop leans more strongly blue, but on my lips, and because of the overall sheerness of the formula, they tend to look quite similar.

Wild Watermelon is a pink-based red that makes for a nice summer alternative to a defined red lip, and Juicy Papaya barely registers as a colour on my lips, just brings the natural coolness down a bit.

As with the regular collection Lip Butters, these have a balm-like feel and a hydrating quality. The wear is closer to a gloss than a lipstick on me, though the brighter colours leave a faint stain behind.

Availability: Check local drugstores and Wal-mart, as it varies by area. Prices vary as well, but the quad averages between 12-15$ CAD, and the Lip Butters tend to be around 9-10$ CAD at regular price.

Pros: The quad has some lovely colours, and can be a nice option for the colour-wary, as they have the kind of texture that makes blending fuss-free. The lip butters are all hydrating, the potential to be worn very softly or blown out to something very vibrant, yet are incredibly easy to wear.

Cons: The quad is definitely not the palette to get if you like your eyeshadows to have serious payoff. I don't really have anything negative about the Lip Butters, though the shade you prefer will depend on how much brightness you want and how much your lip tone tends to influence the overall colour of your lip product, as these ARE sheer, despite the vivid pigment.

(I purchase these items from Jean Coutu.)